âHan Yun Jin?â Lei Ying was shocked by Xu Langâs words. âAre you sure?â
Xu Lang responded, âDo you think Iâd tell you this if Iâm not sure? Weâve known each other for so long now; you should know what kind of person I am.â
Lei Ying asked, âHan Yun Jin is fighting your seventh disciple in a year, right?â
âThatâs right. He probably resorted to this because heâs not confident heâd win,â Xu Lang said.
...
Meanwhile, after conversing with Xu Lang, Lei Ying fell deep into her thoughts. After a while, she finally shook her head, dismissing her thoughts.
At this moment, Lei Jun was coincidentally by Lei Yingâs side. Upon seeing his motherâs behavior, he asked curiously, âMother, whatâs the matter?â
Lei Jun had not been in a good mood recently because he had discovered Dugu Wenâs shattered Soul Pearl not too long ago.
Lei Ying replied, âI just spoke to Xu Lang through Voice Transmission. He told me they were attacked by the Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu, the Hundred Variant Celestial Emperor and the Indestructible Celestial Emperor respectively. It seems like someoneâs targeting Duan Ling Tian, and Xu Lang suspects itâs Han Yun Jin.â
Since Lei Jun was Lei Yingâs son, she did not feel the need to conceal this matter from him. She did not notice that his eyes had widened briefly when she mentioned Xu Lang suspecting Han Yun Jin.
Lei Jun asked curiously, âHow did they escape?â
Lei Jun had assumed Dugu Wen had died before he could even carry out his mission to kill Duan Ling Tian. His heart sank when he realized Dugu Wen was killed while he attempted to assassinate Duan Ling Tian.
âCoincidentally, Zheng Yu Yi, the Copper Mountain Celestial Emperor, had brought his disciple to the Title Temple as well. Therefore, Xu Lang asked for Zheng Yu Yiâs help...â Lei Ying said, âApart from that, Xu Lang said that another titled Celestial Emperor who escorted his granddaughter to the Title Temple had helped as well due to his enmity with Dugu Wu and Dugu Wen. Apparently, Xu Lang and Zheng Yu Yi werenât a match for Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu. However, when that powerful titled Celestial Emperor joined them, the scale tipped in their favor. Although they managed to kill Dugu Wen, Dugu Wu managed to escape.â
After that, I think there was another titled Celestial Emperor heading to the Title Temple with their granddaughter who knew and held a grudge against Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu. Thus, they joined in the fight. When it was only Xu Lang and Zheng Yu Yi, they were no match for Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu... However, the titled Celestial Emperor who happened to pass by was very powerful. Not long after they joined the fight, Dugu Wen was killed. Nevertheless, Dugu Wu managed to escape.â
âDuan Ling Tian is really lucky...â Lei Jun said as his eyes glinted with a vicious light. However, it was gone before Lei Ying could see it.
Lei Ying nodded. âHe wouldnât have survived if the other two titled Celestial Emperors werenât around. Although they suspect Han Yun Jin and are highly certain their suspicion is right, they have insufficient evidence to prove it. Nevertheless, Xu Lang has said that heâll continue investigating the matter. I didnât expect Han Yun Jin to lack so much confidence to the extent of hiring someone to assassinate Duan Ling Tian.â
After Lei Ying finished speaking, she shook her head as contempt flashed in her eyes.
Lei Jun said, âMother, the culprit might not even be Han Yun Jin. This is just their speculation, after all.â
Lei Ying shook her head. âItâs not just a baseless suspicion. I said they had insufficient evidence to prove their suspicion; I didnât say they have no evidence to prove their suspicion. After Dugu Wen died, the titled Celestial Emperor who joined them last collected Dugu Wenâs Spatial Ring. After searching in the Spatial Ring, Xu Lang found three Soul Pearls. Xu Langâs fourth prodigious disciple identified one of the Soul Pearls as Han Yun Jinâs Soul Pearl. Iâm sure you know Xu Langâs fourth prodigious disciple, Wen Wanâer, used to be a couple with Han Yun Jin. Although they did not get married, they were together for such a long time. Itâs not surprising she could identify Han Yun Jinâs Soul Pearl...â
âSoul Pearls?â Lei Junâs eyes widened imperceptibly. He knew one of the three Soul Pearls was his. Previously, he had given Dugu Wen his Soul Pearl. Han Yun Jin had also handed his Soul Pearl to Dugu Wen in case he needed to contact Dugu Wen.
âWhatâs the matter?â Lei Ying asked in confusion when she saw her sonâs abnormal behavior.
âNothing.â Lei Jun shook his head after he inhaled deeply. Then, he said, âMother, I just remember I have something to attend to. Iâll take my leave first...â
Lei Jun did not even wait for a response from his mother and left as soon as he finished speaking. At the same time, he hurriedly sent a Voice Transmission to Han Yun Jin. âHan Yun Jin, Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu actually did meet Duan Ling Tian. We were wrong when he thought he died before he could even carry out his mission.â
Han Yun Jin was shocked when he heard Lei Junâs Voice Transmission. âWhat happened? If Dugu Wen found Duan Ling Tian, how did he fail the mission and die?â
âIt is because...â Lei Jun recounted everything he heard from his mother to Han Yun Jin.
After listening to Lei Jun, Han Yun Jin fell silent for a long time. In the end, he said, âEven if they know Iâm the culprit because of my Soul Pearl in Dugu Wenâs Spatial Ring, itâs not enough to prove anything.â
âI know... However, Iâm worried about my Soul Pearl. They managed to identify your Soul Pearl because of Wen Wanâer. They didnât recognize my Soul Pearl, but who can guarantee they wonât find out itâs my Soul Pearl in the future?â
âSo what? Even if they identify your Soul Pearl, itâs insufficient to prove that youâre the culprit,â Han Yun Jin said nonchalantly, clearly unafraid.
âHan Yun Jin, weâre in different situations,â Lei Jun said, âBased on how much Junior Sister Huanâer cares about Duan Ling Tian, if she finds out the Soul Pearl belongs to me, she definitely wonât accept me even if Duan Ling Tian dies. Therefore, she can never find out the Soul Pearl belongs to me.â
Han Yun Jin said in a leisurely tone, âAlright, alright. So in the end itâs all for a woman? Donât worry, Iâll help you kill him during our life-or-death battle.â After a moment, he asked, âHey, since they failed the assassination attempt, will Dugu Wu return us the price we paid?â
âYouâre dreaming,â Lei Jun said with a sneer, âDo you really think thatâs possible? Put aside the fact that the treasures we used to hire them were probably with Dugu Wen and were probably taken away by someone else after he was killed, even if the treasures were with Dugu Wu, do you really think heâll return them to us now that Dugu Wen is dead? If you dare ask him for a refund, heâll probably kill you in a fit of rage!â
Han Yun Jin was frightened by Lei Junâs words. After a moment, he said with a sour expression, âIf thatâs the case, we shouldnât ask for a refund. However, we still need to find out if heâs still going to continue with the mission...â
Upon hearing this, Lei Jun reminded, âI think itâs best you wait for some time to pass before you head out. Xu Lang already suspects you...â
âIf I have to wait, itâd probably be the time for my life-or-death battle with Duan Ling Tian. If thatâs the case, whatâs the point of us hiring an assassin?â Han Yun said in a deep voice.
âWe have no choice. Donât act rashly unless you have a death wish. If Xu Lang finds evidence that you met Dugu Wu, itâs over for you. Thatâs all the evidence they need. Colluding with outsiders to harm fellow members of the Heavenly Pool Palace is a heavy crime. If youâre convicted, even your master, the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor, wonât be able to help you!â Lei Jun said icily. Naturally, he did not care about Han Yun Jinâs wellbeing. He was only worried he would be implicated if Han Yun Jin acted rashly. If Han Yun Jin was caught, it was not impossible for Han Yun Jin to sell him out in exchange for a lighter punishment. Moreover, he was also worried that his Soul Pearl would be identified.
Han Yun Jin mulled over Lei Junâs words before he said, âI know what to do. I wonât act unless Iâm 100% confident I wonât be discovered.â
...
Time continued to pass.
Han Yun Jin discovered that every time he planned to leave the Heavenly Pool Palace, Xu Langâs disciples would be nearby, keeping an eye on him. Apart from Wen Wanâer and Xu Langâs first disciple, it seemed like all of Xu Langâs prodigious disciples, including Duan Ling Tian, were taking turns keeping an eye on him. With this, he naturally did not dare to leave. In the end, he could only give up. After all, at this time, the life-or-death battle was just a little more than two months away.
Although Han Yun Jin had given up on meeting Dugu Wu, Xu Lang and his prodigious disciples did not stop keeping an eye on him. During the last two months before the battle, it was only Hu Mei, Ouyang Qi Fei, and Hong Fei were the only ones left keeping an eye on him, leaving Duan Ling Tian to cultivate. Although they were confident about Duan Ling Tiansâs strength and knew he had extraordinary means to defeat his opponents, Duan Ling Tian could hardly bring out the Ning Dragons during the battle, after all. Therefore, they wanted him to continue cultivating his Godly Image Phenomenon to increase his strength so that he would be able to face Han Yun Jin in peak condition.
...
Finally, the day of Duan Ling Tian and Han Yun Jinâs life-or-death battle arrived.
A huge crowd had already formed at the Prodigy Arena early in the morning. Many of them were disciples of the Heavenly Pool Palace who had come early to secure themselves a good seat.
âThe day of the battle between the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperorâs strongest disciple, Han Yun Jin, and the Verdant Prairie Celestial Emperorâs seventh prodigious disciple, Duan Ling Tian, is finally here!â
âDuan Ling Tian is an up-and-coming star of the Heavenly Palace. Although heâs not even 300 years old, heâs already incredibly powerful!â
âSince he dares to challenge Han Yun Jin to a life-or-death battle, he must have tricks up his sleeve.â
âThatâs not necessarily true. I was there when he challenged Han Yun Jin. He might have only done it to intimidate Han Yun Jin and didnât expect Han Yun Jin to accept the challenge. In the end, he was left with no choice but to continue on with what he had started...â
âWell, it doesnât matter. Soon enough weâll be able to see whoâs the stronger one between the two of them!â
âHey, it seems like theyâre taking bets! Letâs place a bet as well. Although Han Yun Jinâs odds are lower, Iâll bet on him!â
âI agree. Iâm betting on him as well!â
Before the main stars of the battle arrived, there was already a huge buzz of activities around and in the Prodigy Arena.